Wow, here we are again, where do the months go. If anyone can tell me, I would love it. In the meantime, back to the wild things.

How about a little peek at what the Naturlist said for June 1817. he ought to know what he was talking about.

The fields of clover (trifolium pratense), which are now in blossom, produce a delightful fragrance. Of this plant there are two varieties, the white and the purple; from the latter, the bees extract much honey. The bean blossoms also shed a still more exquisite odour.

It is true that clover has the most wonderful scent. Bees are important and so is honey. I am told there is quite a dearth of bees at the moment -- so plant clover.

Another wild flower blooming at this time is the pimpernel (anagallis arvensis). I expect most of you are familiar with this little flower. It is so very tiny and very pushy. It shows up everywhere, but it is something I remember fondly from my childhood. I expect because it is the right size for a child. And children don't care if things are weeds. You might also be aware of the novel by the same name, but I am sure you know that it wasn't written until the early 1900's and first appeared as a play.

Oops. Off topic.

Now here is an interesting quote.

The poppy (says Cowley) is scattered over the fields of corn, that all the needs of man may be easily satisfied, and that bread and sleep may be found together.

What do you think of that?

But if you have been in England at this time of year and through into July, you will have seen golden ears of corn (wheat, barley, oats, not indian corn or maze) or hay fields with a haze of red. It really is quite startling at first. And very pretty. We see them in North America now too, but they did come from Europe. Though of course we are more likely to see fields and fields of sickly yellow rape seed now. Personally, I don't like it, but perhaps because I remember how it used to be and after all we must progress.

And last but not least, Among the various ornaments of the garden, The Rose, that queen of flowers, stands pre-eminent;

The Austrian rose blossoms in the early part of the month, as does also the Chinese rose: these are followed by the common garden rose, the single yellow rose (Rosa lutea), and the white rose (R. alba); last of all comes the loveliest of floral attractions—the Moss Rose—which should be termed The Rose—par excellence!